Exclusive Israel 2019

The Biblical Archaeology Society is proud to offer you a very special opportunity to encounter Israel in a way that most people will never experience. If you would like to combine adventure, discovery and exploration of some of history’s most significant sites with the scholars that know them best, then we invite you to join us on an extraordinary journey through one of the world’s most sacred and history-drenched lands.

Travel with us on a truly unique experience in the Holy Land, where three of the world’s largest religions converge in history. We are proud of the exclusive access that we are able to provide to you, our guests and partners in the exciting adventure that is a BAS trip to Israel. Don’t miss this extraordinary experience – join us!

Itinerary

November 10, Sunday Arrive Tel Aviv by Turkish Airlines TK 786 at 15:40
Upon arrival at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport, you will be met by TUTKU representative with a “BAS – TUTKU” sign. After collecting our luggage we will head to meet our Tour Guide Mr Ofer Drori thereafter drive to the BY14 Hotel in Tel Aviv for dinner and overnight. (D)

November 11, Monday Caesarea, Mt. Carmel, Megiddo, Mt. Tabor – Tiberias
After breakfast drive to the ruins of Caesarea, a large city port built by Herod the Great to honor Roman Caesar Augustus. His city included a theater, a hippodrome, and an aqueduct system stretching from the springs of Mt. Carmel to Caesarea. The book of Acts refers to Caesarea as the city Peter visited (Acts 10). Continue to Mt. Carmel where we visit the Carmelite Monastery of Muhraka to survey the site where God caused Elijah to defeat the priests of Ba’al and a wonderful view of the Jezreel Valley. On to Megiddo where archaeologists uncovered 20 civilizations built one upon another. At this site, King Solomon built his vast stables and, in 609 BC, good King Josiah died in battle. Drive to Mt. Tabor. Take a taxi to the top of the mountain and visit the Church of the Transfiguration. Enjoy an outstanding view of the Jezreel Valley where the battle of Deborah and the Canaanites took place (Judges 5). Continue on to the Leonardo hotel in Tiberias for dinner & overnight. (B ,D)

November 12, Tuesday Hazor, Dan, Banias/Caesarea Philippi, Golan Heights
Today travel north to visit Hazor, the largest Old Testament site in Israel (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). We will then proceed to Dan, on the northern border of the biblical kingdom of Israel. There we will walk to one of the headwaters of the Jordan River and visit the extensive excavations. A short drive will take us to Banias / Caesarea Philippi, the place where Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ (Matt 16:16). From there drive up on to the Golan Heights and view into Syria (if local conditions permit). Time permitting visit Katzrin where there is a well–preserved Synagogue and reconstructed houses. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias. (B,D)

November 13, Wednesday Sea of Galilee, Jesus’ Ministries
Begin our day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, visit the first century fishing boat that is now in a museum and continue on to the well–preserved, first century A.D. synagogue at Magdala and the excavations. We will continue on to visit the Mt. Of Beatitudes then Capernaum, Jesus’ “home” for a good portion of his earthy ministry. We will visit Corazim with its reconstructed synagogue. If time permits we will visit Bethsaida. Return to Tiberias for dinner & overnight. (B,D)

November 14, Thursday Sepphoris, Nazareth Overlook, Jericho, Jordan River
Visit Sepphoris, 3 miles north of Nazareth with its beautiful mosaic floors. Continue to visit the Mount of Precipice where we will have a wonderful view of the Jezreel Valley. We continue on to visit the site of Jezreel, where Naboth had his vineyard that was coveted by the Israelite King Ahab. We will then drive south down the Jordan Valley and visit Old Testament Jericho where the “walls came tumbling down.” End our day at the Jordan River near where the Israelites entered the land of Canaan and where John was Baptizing. Continue to the Ein Bokek area. Overnight at the Leonardo Plaza hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea. (B,D)

November 15, Friday Dead Sea, Masada, Qumran – Jerusalem
We begin our day with a “float” in the Dead Sea at our Spa Hotel. We will then head north to visit Masada, a natural fortress with majestic ruins overlooking the Dead Sea. Peer into amazing water cisterns as a cable car delivers us up to Herod the Builder’s elaborate aerie. Marvel at the impressive villas built on different levels. Large storehouses fed hundreds. Jewish zealots held the fortress against the unrelenting 10th Roman legion until 72 AD, when after a monumental siege, using an attack ramp, they conquered it. In the afternoon, we will drive north to visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947. We will then continue on to the Olive Tree hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and & overnight. (B,D)

November 16, Saturday Mt. Of Olives, Gethsemane, Old City, Holy Sepulcher, Garden Tomb
We begin our day with a spectacular view of Jerusalem from the top of the Mount of Olives. As we walk down the mount, we will stop at Dominus Flevit, the church that commemorates Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, and the Garden of Gethsemane—the site of Jesus’ Passion. We will view of the Kidron Valley. Afterwards enter the Old City at the Lion’s Gate. We will visit St. Anne’s Church and Pools of Bethesda continuing on the Via Dolorosa to Umariyah Boys’ School for a view of Temple Mount and then to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher—the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. End our day at the Garden Tomb and Gordon’s Calvary. Dinner & overnight. (B,D)

November 17, Sunday Bethlehem, Herodium, Mt Zion, Western Wall
Start our day and drive to Bethlehem where we will visit the Church of the Nativity and have some time for shopping. Drive to the Herodium, the palace/fortress where Herod the Great was eventually buried and then return to Jerusalem to Mt. Zion to visit the room of the last supper and King David tomb. Walk through the Jewish Quarter to view the holiest site for Judaism the Western (wailing) Wall. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Dinner & overnight (B,D)

November 18, Monday City of David, Wohl Museum, Yad Vashem, Israel Museum
We start our day at the City of David where we will visit Warren’s Shaft, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, and the Pool of Siloam. Be sure to bring a flashlight and water shoes to walk through the tunnel. Anyone wanting to stay dry can walk through the dry Canaanite Tunnel. Continue to the Wohl museum. Then drive to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and Museum. Afterwards, continue on to visit the Israel Museum where we will see the model of Second Temple Jerusalem, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and archaeological highlights of the Israel Museum. Dinner and overnight. (B,D)

November 19, Tuesday Departure
You will be transferred to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport for your flight back home. End of our services.

Host:

Carl Rasmussen is Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He received his Ph.D. in Ancient Near Eastern Studies from Dropsie University (now the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania). Dr. Rasmussen has spent 16 years of his adult life living in Israel, Jordan, Greece, and Turkey, where he taught and led academic study programs. Since his retirement from Bethel University, Dr. Rasmussen has continued to teach and lead adult study tours in Turkey, Greece, and Israel. Each year he spends time in Jerusalem, where he is Adjunct Professor at the Jerusalem University College.

He is the author of The Zondervan Atlas of the Bible (2010) and The Zondervan Essential Atlas of the Bible (2013). He has created and maintains the web site www.HolyLandPhotos.org that features over 5,150 free high-resolution images of Israel, Turkey, Greece, Malta, Jordan, Italy and elsewhere."

Ofer Drori has many years of guiding experience and has acquired great knowledge in Biblical History, desert tourism, archeological missions and agricultural seminars as well as having great experience in guiding pilgrimage groups, Jewish missions as well as private group guiding.

During his high school years, military service, or various jobs in the kibbutz, he has always enjoyed guiding, and today this is is only job and a way of life.

Ofer is a licensed tour guide, who is fluent in Hebrew, English and Arabic.

Tour Features

Roundtrip International Air Tickets between New York JFK – Tel Aviv TLV (Air schedule will be given after deposits)

1 Night at 4 star BY14 Hotel in Tel Aviv or similar

3 Nights at 4 star Leonardo Hotel in Tiberias or similar

1 Night at 4 star Leonardo Plaza Dead Sea Hotel in Dead Sea

4 Nights at 4 star Olive Tree Hotel in Jerusalem or similar

Daily breakfast and 9 Dinners at the hotels

Sightseeing as per the itinerary

All transfers and transportation by private AC Buses

Entrance fee at the Dead Sea Spa Hotel beach & public area

Private English Speaking Guide during all tours (Ofer Drori)

Entrance Fees

Program Cost Does NOT Include:

Travel or Health Insurances

Lunches

All Drinks

Tips to drivers and guides (suggested tip is $7.00 per person, per day for the guide, and $3.00 per person, per day for the driver)

TRAVEL INSURANCE

While travel insurance is highly recommended and can be purchased through your credit card provider as well as any travel insurance company, we recommend but you are not limited to www.travelinsuranceselect.com. Visit them online or call 1-800-937-1387. Mention Code 32335.